Dredging apparatus.



' wit" 5% N0. 893,743. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

D. P. MOORE. DREDGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1908.

DAVID PELTON MOORE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed April 11, 1908. Serial No. 426,539.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID PELTON MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredging Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in dredging apparatus, and has special reference to a combined hydraulic and pneumatic dredging apparatus, especially adapted for raising with an intermixed flow of water and air, gangue or other desired deposits, either in dredging rivers for precious metals or sand and gravel.

This particular invention relates to a form of dredging head, which is an improve ment upon the dredging head, as set forth in my application filed March 6th, 1908, Serial #419,421. This particular dredging head, is so constructed as to cheapen the cost of the same, and at the same time to produce a collapsible head, whereby the gangue duct and head is more easily inserted or withdrawn, thus expediting the operation of, moving the head and duct from one deposit to another. In this new construction, I have also endeavored' to make use of pipe and pipe fittings, thereby cheapening the cost of construction and also of repair to my apparatus.

To more clearly illustrate my invention, attention is invited to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gangue duct with my improved dredging head in position thereon, dotted lines showing the head collapsed. Fig. 2 is a view of the head operating lever. Fig. 3 is a side view of a non-collapsible head. Fig. 4 is a View looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top plan View thereof.

Referring to the drawings :The numeral 1 designates the gangue duct, which is made up of sections of pipe, and is provided with the discharge end 2, 'which may lead to a scow or on shore, as circumstances may permit. Secured to the intake end 3, thereof, is a collar 4, which acts as a supporting means for the dredging head 5. This dredging head, as shown in Fig. 1, consists of a series of rods 6, each one of which is made of two hinged members 7 and 7, the lower one 7, being hinged to the truncated conical sleeve or thimble 8, while the upper one 7, is hinged to the sliding ring 9, which normally rests flush upon the collar 4, and thus extends the hinged rods 6, so that they assume the position shown in full lines Fig 1.- In order to collapse the head, that is by straightening, or nearly so, the rods 6, these, rods 6, and the sliding ring 9, is drawn upwardly by means of the two rods 11, which are operably connected at the top of the gangue duct to the pivoted operating lever 12, the stationary ring 13,- upon the-duct, preventing the sliding ring 9, from moving upwardly too far. By this means the circumference of the dredging head is reduced, so that the head and duct can be more readily inserted into or withdrawn from the deposit.

In order that the sleeve or thimble 8, will be held stationary, I mount in its lower end, the nozzle 14, of the inserting water jet pipe 15, the said pipe extending upwardly and exteriorly of the gangue duct to its supply, the valve 15, controlling the supply of the water through the nozzle. This pipe and its nozzle remain .at all times in stationary position, thus insuring the stationary position of the sleeve 8. When it is desired to sink or insert the dredging head, the head is collapsed and the water is admitted through the pipe 15, and its nozzle 14, which projects a et of water against the deposit, displacing the same, and making an opening to receive the head and duct. Paralleling the duct and having a controlling valve (not shown), is a ipe 17, which enters the head and is provi ed centrally thereof with the four-way nozzle 18, this nozzle being adapted to project water or air under pressure into the head below and centrally of the intake or inlet end of the duct. This pipe 17 is preferably arranged diametrically opposite to the pipe 15, but this is of no great importance.

Arranged diametrically opposite to each other and parallel to the duct, are two pipes 19 and 20, both of which have controlling valves 19 and 20', respectively, and terminate in the dredging head in a vertically and centrally disposed nozzle 21, the pipe 19 entering from below as at 22, while the pipe 20 enters above as at 23. These two pipes, when the pipe 17 is discharging air under pressure are discharging water under pressure, and as the natural outlet for this discharge of both the air andwater is the gangue pi e, the intermixed flow of air and water wi l carry any particles that will pass through the dredging head, up and through the gangue duct. 1 would have it under stood that I can also send air through one of the pipes either 19 or 20, and water through the pipe 17, it being my desire to use any and all of the combinations of air and water, that will produce the steadiest and most uninterrupted flow of the gangue through the duct.

The head shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is-made of the upper stationary ring 24, the angle rods 25, which are rigidly secured at their upper ends thereto, while their lower ends are rigidly secured to the sleeve or thimble 8, which is the same construction as the sleeve or thimble 8. The arrangement of the nozzles is exactly the same in this form of head, the only difference being that this head is not collapsible.

l Vhat I claim, as new is 1. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, and a collapsible dredging head carried upon the lower end thereof.

2. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof, and means for collapsing or extending said head.

3. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof, and means for introducing pressure fluids in said head whereby a flow is created through the duct.

4. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof,

means for collapsing or extending said head, and. means for introducing pressure fluid in said head, whereby a flow is created through the duct.

5. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof and through which the deposit is adapted to be drawn, an upper jet mounted centrally of the head and having two discharges thereinto, and a lower central jet having one discharge thereinto, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a dredging head. mounted upon the lower end thereof and made of an open frame work, an upper jet I mounted centrally within the head and having two discharges thereinto, a et below the same having one discharge thereinto, and another jet mounted in the apex of the head and having a discharge, whereby the head is inserted into or withdrawn from the deposit.

7. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof and through which the deposit is adapted to be drawn, an upper jet mounted centrally of the head and having two discharges thereinto, and a lower central jet having one discharge thereinto.

8. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof and through which the deposit is adapted to be drawn, means for collapsing or extending said head, an upper jet mounted centrally of the head and having two discharges thereinto, and a lower central jet having one discharge thereinto.

9. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof and through which the deposit is adapted to be drawn, an upper single jet mounted centrally of the head and having two discharges thereinto, and a lower central series of jets having a single discharge thereinto.

10. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof and through which the deposit is adapted to be drawn, an upper single jet mounted centrally of the head and having two discharges thereinto, and a lower central series of jets having a single discharge thereinto.

11. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof, means for collapsing or extending said head, an upper single vertical jet mounted centrally of the head and having two discharges thereinto, and a lower central series of jets having a single discharge thereinto.

12. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue duct, a collapsible dredging head mounted upon the lower end thereof, means for collapsing or extending said head, an upper single vertical jet mounted centrally of the head, a lower central series of jets having a single discharge thereinto, and a downwardly projecting jet in the lowest end of the head for projecting a stream to facilitate the inserting or withdrawing of the head and duct.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID PEIJTON MOORE.

Witnesses:

G. M. SPRING, A. M. PARKINS. 

